Reader Submission

‘My experience as a teacher and researcher in Japan has allowed me to observe and study classrooms in depth. The first thing that caught my attention was the use of chalkboards.’ Dr Shirley Tan shares how the traditional Japanese technique of bansho board writing can enhance teaching and learning in your own classroom.

'Closely crafting questions, reviewing data, making changes, engaging with open-ended questions were already all part of my daily work in the classroom.’ Dr Jason DeHart discusses the importance of teacher voices in research, and reflects on his own study journey.

‘My children’s story writing changed – it brought out their identities through struggles and motivations that were close to their heart.’ Supriya Prakash recalls the impact on her young students of introducing Indian literature to the classroom bookshelves.

In this reader submission, Meesha Arora – a teacher at The British School, New Delhi – discusses how schools can better connect their vision and mission statements to day-to-day learning activities and collect evidence and feedback to further guide teacher planning.

What do you do with copies of old textbooks, battered novels and random pages? While recycling for the benefit of the environment is always a go-to option, Dr Jason DeHart offers some creative ideas for what you can do with old book copies and other ephemera that are lying in classrooms and back rooms.

Toys are an integral part of our childhood years – from a traditional toy like a spinning top (lattoo) to the latest games consoles, we cherish the time we have spent with our childhood friends playing with our favourite toys. Head of Pragyan School Divya Kapoor explains Toy-Based Pedagogy can be an effective teaching and learning approach for students of all ages.

‘Changing video consumption patterns in education have inspired a growing body of research focused on measuring video’s effectiveness as a learning aid’. In this reader submission, Tara Walsh shares some findings from her recent literature review into the use of instructional video in K-12 education.

In today’s article, Principal of Birla Vidya Niketan in New Delhi, Minakshi Kushwaha, talks about the school’s popular initiative, Friday@8. It is an intradisciplinary online quiz developed for students in Grades 6 to 12. The quiz has improved students’ ability to extend knowledge learnt at school.

Education systems across the world have taken different approaches to addressing the challenges of the pandemic. Jaylene S Miravel – a teacher at Lal-lo North Central School in the Philippines – shares how she is supporting students who are falling behind in reading during this prolonged period of remote learning.

Oral communication is a vital life skill. Teachers can help students emerge as confident speakers by introducing speaking sessions in the classroom. Sujata Katoch Rana shares her tips.